A beautiful garden only becomes a real outdoor room once you put furniture in it that is not just practical, but also handsome, hard-wearing and suited to your particular garden. Teak counts as one of the best materials for garden furniture. It is sturdy, weather-resistant and elegant, and over the years it develops a natural patina. But how do you make the right choice? In this detailed guide we take you through selecting your teak garden furniture step by step, from the basic questions to the right size and use, and on to care, delivery and special furniture configurations.
Why teak is the right choice for the garden
Before we talk about specific tables, chairs or sets, it is worth looking more closely at the material itself. There is a good reason why teak is one of the most popular timbers for outdoor use.
Teak: the premium timber for outdoors
Teak is an excellent outdoor material, because it is naturally weather-resistant and has properties that make it ideal for garden furniture:
- High natural oil content: this makes the wood naturally resistant to moisture, rot and pests.
- Resistant to rain: where other timbers swell or crack quickly in the rain, solid teak keeps its dimensions and stays hard-wearing.
- Durability: good-quality teak furniture lasts many years outdoors. Solid, carefully worked teak is clearly a different proposition from lesser alternatives or thin veneered solutions.
- Timeless character: freshly worked teak has a warm, honey-brown colour. Over time it develops a silver-grey patina, a natural process that many people find particularly refined.
These properties make teak the first choice when you want outdoor furniture for the long term.
In short: invest in solid teak garden furniture if you value durability, natural beauty and easy upkeep.
The most important starting point: how big is your garden really?
Many people make the mistake of falling in love with a furniture set first and only then working out whether it actually fits the space available. Turn that process around deliberately. The first step is always to assess your area. Measure your terrace or the intended section accurately:
- Length and width of the terrace or garden area
- Zones with shade, sun or a canopy
- Paths and walkways that need to stay clear
That way your furniture will not end up looking too large or too small. A small garden or compact terrace calls for different solutions than a generous plot. In smaller spaces, solid and very long tables quickly feel heavy. Here a square or round teak table may sit more harmoniously. In large gardens you can plan more ambitiously. Long tables of 240 or even 300 centimetres can come fully into their own there.
How do you use your garden: honestly and realistically?
The second central question is not aesthetic but practical: how is your garden actually used? Not as you ideally picture it, but as your daily life really looks.
If you regularly eat outdoors with the family, a sturdy, generous dining table is the centrepiece. In that case the focus is on comfortable seating and a pleasant table height. Solid teak dining tables combined with matching chairs or benches are then an excellent choice.
If your garden is more a place to unwind, where you have a glass of wine in the evening or read a book, a teak lounge set may be the better option. Deep seats, wide armrests and a low table create a different atmosphere from classic dining groups.
Some gardens serve both purposes. It can then make sense to create two clearly defined zones: a dining area and a lounge area. This works particularly well in larger outdoor spaces or on generous terraces.
Be consistent in this choice. Someone who hosts a large party twice a year does not necessarily need a permanent table for twelve in the garden. Flexibility may be the wiser option in that case rather than the maximum solution.
What size for how many people?
A common uncertainty is the question of the right table size. Allow roughly 60 centimetres of table width per person. That gives everyone enough freedom of movement and stops the table feeling cramped. The number of people determines the dimensions and the size of the set:
- 2 to 4 people: compact sets are enough.
- 4 to 6 people: standard dining groups with a generous table.
- 8 or more people: larger garden sets or modular systems are ideal.
For two to four people, a table between 80 and 140 centimetres long is often enough. For four to six people, 160 to 200 centimetres is a comfortable size. If you regularly eat outdoors with eight or more people, it is best to consider tables from 220 centimetres.
It is not only about length, but about width as well. A table 100 centimetres wide looks noticeably more generous than a narrower model and leaves more room for crockery, serving dishes and decoration.
Teak fully outdoors, or under a canopy as well?
Teak is made for outdoors. Even so, there are differences depending on whether the furniture stands completely in the open or is placed under a canopy or in a conservatory.
Furniture fully outdoors
Teak is excellently suited to unrestricted outdoor use. Thanks to its natural oils the material is highly weather-resistant: rain, sun and frost barely affect the wood.
For use outdoors, look out for the following:
- Furniture with drainage grooves or gaps (on tables, for instance), so that water can run off properly.
- Set components that all have the same weather resistance.
- Additional protective covers if you like, for very rough weather.
With us you will find teak furniture with exactly these properties in the "Garden furniture" product category.
Furniture under a canopy
Under a canopy, furniture is protected further. The wood therefore keeps its original colour for longer, because it is less exposed to direct UV light.
- Less direct sunlight: slower fading.
- Protection from rain: dry seats, fewer water marks.
In a conservatory, teak furniture is treated almost as indoor furniture. It benefits from the stable climate and holds its looks for a particularly long time. At the same time it brings a natural, warm atmosphere into the sheltered space.
So the choice depends less on the material itself, since teak works everywhere, than on how the piece is made and constructed, and on the use you have in mind.
Chairs: stacking or fixed?
An often underrated point is the choice of the right chairs. Stacking models offer one clear advantage: flexibility. When you are expecting guests you can put out extra chairs and then store them away compactly. This is particularly practical in smaller gardens, or if you like to rearrange things with the seasons.
Fixed chairs often look more substantial and give an impression of durability and stability. They are generally heavier and convey a particular quality as a result. Anyone who leaves a seating group in place permanently and rarely moves it will appreciate that solidity.
There is no "right" or "wrong" here, only a matter of priorities. Do you need flexibility, or would you rather have a solid, permanent arrangement?
With or without armrests?
Armrests raise seating comfort considerably, especially during long evenings at the table. They invite a relaxed posture and turn the chair almost into an armchair. In this case comfort weighs more heavily than function:
- With armrests: better seating comfort, above all for long meals and conversations. May be wider, so more space is needed.
- Without armrests: a cleaner look and more flexibility. Easier to combine with other furniture.
Chairs without armrests look leaner and more modern. They can be placed closer together and are often a little lighter. For compact terraces or minimalist design schemes they are usually the better choice.
Caring for teak: how much work does it take?
First the good news: teak is exceptionally easy to look after. Unlike many other timbers it does not have to be oiled or varnished. Regular cleaning with water and a soft brush is enough in most cases to remove dirt:
- Mild soapy water: lift dirt away along the grain of the wood.
- Soft brush or cloth: prevents scratches and does not damage the surface.
- No pressure washer: this can damage the wood.
If you want to keep the warm, brown colour, you can use a special teak oil. That is an aesthetic choice, though, not a necessity. Left untreated, the wood develops an even, silver-grey patina. This has no effect on strength or lifespan.
Overwintering and protection
Teak may be weather-resistant, but the furniture still benefits from the following:
- Covers in rough weather: they protect cushions and visible surfaces.
- Winter storage (optional): a moderately warm cellar or shed will extend the lifespan further.
Delivery and assembly: what to watch for
An important aspect of buying furniture is delivery and assembly. Here too, Souren Furniture offers practical solutions:
- Deliveries are made within Europe, including assembly on request.
- Within a radius of 300 km from Nuth (including the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and parts of Germany) we deliver with our own service. Over greater distances, delivery is handled by a reliable haulier with whom we have a cooperation agreement.
- With larger garden sets, tables are often delivered assembled. Chairs and benches are usually pre-assembled.
Tip: discuss delivery time and assembly costs beforehand. With large sets in particular, it pays off.
Make a considered choice
Choosing the right teak garden furniture is not an impulse decision but an investment for many years. Once you weigh up size, use, number of people and location realistically, you automatically make better choices.
Teak gives you maximum freedom: sturdy enough for the open garden, elegant enough for the conservatory and versatile enough for all kinds of set combinations. Whether it is stacking chairs, substantial models with armrests or generous tables, what counts is that your furniture suits the way you live.
Do not make it harder for yourself than it needs to be. Measure accurately, think about your daily life and invest in quality. Then your garden will not only look good, it will work. And that is exactly what makes the difference.
